The Carolina Hurricanes have traded left winger Alexei Ponikarovsky to the New Jersey Devils.

The Devils dealt a fourth-round draft pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and minor league defenseman Joe Sova to the Hurricanes to acquire the 31-year-old.

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said of Ponikarovsky: "He brings size. He's 6-3, 6-4. He's a left shot and he's going to help our third line. We just have to get our third and fourth line straightened out and this is one step towards it."

The draft choice dealt in the trade belongs to the Devils. New Jersey also has a fourth-rounder from Toronto that the team acquired in the David Steckel trade.

In 49 games this season, Ponikarovsky has seven goals and eight assists.

This past offseason, Ponikarovsky signed a one-year deal for $1.5 million with the Hurricanes.

The trade also signals that the Hurricanes will indeed be sellers as the NHL's trading deadline approaches.

"This trade brings the Hurricanes assets for the future, and gives the young players in our system the opportunity to gain more NHL experience this year," said Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford.

The deadline is still over a month away on Feb. 27 at 3 p.m. EST.

In 11 seasons, Ponikarovsky has 128 goals, while playing with the Maple Leafs, Penguins, Kings and Hurricanes.